Chapter EightKendall’s POVThe next morning, I woke with a heavy heart, the events of the previous night weighing heavily on my mind. Despite my best efforts to push aside the hurt and disappointment, they lingered like a dark cloud, casting a heavy cloud over the new day.As I lay there, the soft rays of sunlight filtering through the curtains, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of sadness wash over me. I had stormed out of the room in a fit of anger after Declan’s cold rejection last night.Unable to bear the thought of facing Declan after his rejection, now in the quiet solitude of the morning, I couldn’t shake the feeling of regret that ate at me from within.With a heavy sigh, I rolled over in bed, expecting to find Declan lying beside me, his presence a constant reminder of the distance that still separated us. But to my surprise, the other side of the bed was empty, the sheets cold and made.Confusion and disappointment flooded through me as I sat up, scanning the room for any s
Chapter NineKendall’s POVTwo weeks had passed since I arrived among Declan’s pack, and each day felt like years of loneliness. Declan remained as stubborn and cold as ever, his indifference to me constantly reminded me of my failure to win his affection.The pack members, too, made it clear that I was not welcome among them. They treated me with disdain and suspicion, their eyes cold and unwelcoming every time as they went about their duties.It was clear that they saw me as nothing more than an outsider, an stranger among them. Despite my best efforts to fit in though, to prove myself worthy of their acceptance, it seemed that nothing I did was enough to earn anyone’s trust.No matter how hard I worked or how honestly I tried to please them, I remained a stranger. But somehow, I refused to give up hope. Knowing that he was the key to everything, I was determined to prove to Declan and his pack that I was worthy of respect, that I belonged by his side as his mate.One evening, as I
Chapter TenKendall’s POVAs the day of the wedding approached, a sense of dread settled over me like a heavy cloud. I couldn’t shake the feeling of terror of what the future held with Declan as my mate and husband that gripped my heart. But with the arrangements for the wedding already made, there was no turning back now. The ride back to my father’s pack for the ceremony was a silent one, filled with tension and unspoken resentment between us. I sat stiffly beside Declan, staring out the window as the scenery blurred past, my mind a whirlwind of emotions.I missed my home, the familiar sights and sounds of my father’s pack. Returning felt like stepping into a nightmare, a reminder of the life I was leaving behind and the uncertain future that awaited me. Throughout the journey, I didn’t say a word to Declan, and he seemed content to let the silence stretch between us. Perhaps he too was wrestling with his own doubts and fears, or maybe he simply didn’t care.As we arrived at my fa
Chapter ElevenKendall’s POVFeeling suffocated by the weight of my choices, I fled to the bathroom, seeking comfort in the only place where I could be alone with my thoughts.The tears came fast and hot, streaming down my cheeks in silent torrents as I collapsed to the floor, the sound of my sobs echoing off the walls.But after a while, a new sensation washed over me, one that was far more unsettling. My stomach churned with nausea, and before I knew it, I was retching violently into the toilet bowl, the bitter taste of bile burning in the back of my throat.I stayed there for what felt like an eternity, the pain and despair running over me. But as the minutes stretched on, a new feeling began to take root within me, a feeling of defiance that that I had always had.I couldn’t go back to Declan, couldn’t bear the thought of spending the rest of my days in a loveless marriage, trapped in terrible life of humiliations, a life that was originally of my choosing — what a shame.No, I ha
Chapter TwelveDeclan’s POVAs I stood there in the dim room, the dagger clenched tightly in my hand, I watched as Kendall’s eyes widened in terror.The fear radiating off her was palpable, her body trembling as she backed away from me, her breath coming in shallow, ragged gasps.I could feel the power coursing through me, the rush of adrenaline as I held the dagger high, its gleaming blade catching the faint light of the room.But even as I reveled in the fear that I had instilled in Kendall, a part of me felt a twinge of guilt, a flicker of remorse at the sight of her cowering before me.But I quickly pushed aside those feelings, burying them deep within me as I advanced towards her, the dagger held out menacingly in front of me.“You thought you could escape from me, didn’t you, Kendall?” I taunted, my voice dripping with malice. “You thought you could just run away and leave me behind.”Kendall’s eyes widened even further, her breath coming in short gasps as she pressed herself ag
Chapter ThirteenKendall’s POVAs I dashed through the darkened woods, my heart pounding in my chest, I felt a surge of adrenaline coursing through my veins. Every rustle of leaves, every snap of twigs sent shivers down my spine, but I pushed on, driven by the desperate need to escape.My breath came in gasps as I ran, my muscles burning with exertion. I didn’t know where I was going, didn’t have a plan beyond putting as much distance between myself and Declan as possible.But as I emerged into a clearing, the moonlight casting a glow over the landscape, I saw a path leading towards the mountains in the distance. I recognized those mountains from our journey here, the towering peaks a familiar sight that filled me with hope.If I could reach them, if I could find a way to navigate through the terrain, perhaps I could find a way to escape this nightmare once and for all.But as I pushed myself to keep running, the exhaustion began to take its toll, my legs heavy with fatigue. I stumble
Chapter FourteenKendall’s POVAs I cowered in the corner of the dark dungeon cell, my heart pounding in my chest, I stared in horror at the wolf-man before me. His eyes shone with a wild hunger, his sharp teeth revealing in a menacing snarl. I knew I had to fight for my life, but the fear coursing through me threatened to paralyze me.“Kill him, Kendall,” Declan’s voice echoed through the darkness, his tone mocking. “That’s the only way you’ll ever leave this place.”I shook my head in disbelief, tears streaming down my cheeks as I realized the gravity of the situation. How could I possibly fight against such a powerful and dangerous creature?Staring back in horror at the wolf man before me, his eyes shining red with rage, I felt a chill run down my spine. Declan’s words echoed in my mind, his cruel demand hanging in the air like a death sentence.I glanced back towards Declan. “What?” I replied, shocked by his words."You heard what I said, Kendall,” he taunted, his voice cold and
Chapter FifteenKendall’s POVAs I paced back and forth in my room, the weight of my predicament pressing down on me, I knew that escape was futile. Declan had stationed a guard outside my door, a constant reminder of the prison I was trapped in.I glanced out the window, but the darkness of the night offered no comfort to me, no trace of hope. With a heavy sigh, I turned away from the window and began to undress, the blood-stained fabric clinging to my skin, a reminder of the horrors I had endured in that cell. I stepped into the shower, letting the hot water wash over me, cleansing away the blood and grime from my wounds. As the water cascaded down my body, I felt a sense of numbness creeping over me, a detachment from the pain that seemed to define my existence.But even as I tried to push the thoughts from my mind, the memory of the wolf man’s savage attack remained, haunting me like a ghost. Stepping out of the shower, I wrapped a towel around my body and made my way over to the